TRSA’s NY Leg-Con Targets Congestion Pricing

Posted May 24, 2018 at 6:39 pm



TRSA members, including association President and CEO Joseph Ricci (third from left), stand outside the New York state Capitol in Albany during a recent effort to educate lawmakers on a proposal for "congestion pricing" on vehicles in Manhattan.

TRSA members recently gathered in Albany, NY, for the association’s inaugural New York State Legislative Conference. The conference was developed to support TRSA’s efforts to oppose congestion pricing, a proposed plan to add a charge of $25 or more per trip for delivery trucks entering Manhattan.

While TRSA won an initial victory in keeping the linen, uniform and facility services industry out of this program in this year’s state budget, a move to revisit the issue is likely to occur during the upcoming session of the legislature.

The group gathered for a general session and issue briefing by Kevin Schwalb, TRSA’s vice president of government relations and Paul Thomas of the Parkside Group, TRSA’s legislative representative in New York, to get the latest information on the issue and to learn the ins and outs of lobbying.

The next day, the TRSA “lobbyists” went to the State Capitol of New York to meet with their individual legislators, as well as key legislative leaders to ensure that the TRSA position would be heard and taken into consideration during any discussions of the congestion-pricing issue. In all, the TRSA delegation visited over 30 state legislative offices, and had several meetings with legislators off the floor of the State Assembly.

“Representing TRSA as an organized unit of industrial launderers, of all types and sizes, proved to be meaningful and clearly made an impact,” said Walker Morgan, general manager of Morgan Linen Service Inc., Menands, NY.  We all know that every penny counts to all operators, and we need to help legislators understand our importance to any economy.”

Rob Potack, CEO of Unitex, Elmsford, NY, noted that even if enacted, the fee isn’t going to mean fewer traffic jams in the Big Apple. “The congestion-pricing issue would add an increase in the cost of doing business – without addressing the true problem of traffic congestion,” said. “Having the message come from TRSA members directly made a huge impact on the legislators’ thinking. I would definitely participate again. It is clear that participation in the policy process is key to ensuring that the industry’s message is heard.”

Dennis Demarco, northeast group staff of Cintas Corp., added that the meetings will pay dividends in terms of how policymakers deal with the issue of congestion pricing over the long term. “It was an honor to spend the day in Albany with the other TRSA members, helping to shine a light on the issues that are facing our industry,” Demarco said “I believe that the information we shared with the lawmakers will be beneficial when these issues are decided  in the future.”

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